There are few ELCA youth directors who wake up every morning and separate the goats from the sheep. I get to live out today’s Gospel twice a day!
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As part of our Planning Worship for Advent & Christmas Zoom brainstorm meeting, Pastor Sarah Stadler of Grace Lutheran, Phoenix, provided some ideas for meaningful worship in these unique times using the five senses.
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One feature of All Creation Sings is the inclusion of many short songs; they make up nearly one-fourth of the collection.
This time of pandemic presents some unique opportunities around such short, “paperless” songs for home use, outdoor settings, and online gatherings.
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It was a privilege to be one of the contributing writers for Hear My Voice: A Prison Prayer Book. As a person in prison, it has been a joyful satisfaction to see how valuable and much appreciated the book is among the incarcerated men I have come to know.
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Listen to devotional music available through Augsburg Fortress: “The King Shall Come;” “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ;” “Steal Away.”
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Lectionary 33, Year A, November 15, 2020: Righteous God, our merciful master, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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Hundreds of people have used their time during the pandemic to start a new business. Feyi Raimi-Abraham has used the time to start the Black Dementia Company (BDC).
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Musician David Haas has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women spanning many years. Several institutions have requested congregations to no longer sing works by Haas pending an investigation.
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Throughout the past several weeks, posts about Advent and Christmas planning have begun to appear on social media forums for worship leaders.
As a cantor, I’ve read such conversations with a mixture of interest and exasperation. There is much creativity in our midst, and many are faithfully planning with appropriate responsibility and care.
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Listen to devotional music available through Augsburg Fortress: “It is Well With My Soul;” “Rejoice and Let Your Lights Appear;” “The Beautiful Land.”
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O God of justice and love, you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, and awaken us to the needs of others, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
When we come before God in worship, we bring our whole selves. What does that actually mean? For many people in the ELCA it means coming to worship with the assistance of a mobility, audio, visual, or sensory device.
Unfortunately, in many of our churches or places of worship, it is our siblings in Christ who have disabilities and need such devices who feel the least welcome at the table.
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Have you ever known a “prepper”? Preppers are people who prepare for emergencies or disasters by storing large quantities of items they might need.
Being prepared is an important life skill all can develop. It goes beyond having what you need and extends to planning the response you’ll make when something unexpected happens.
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In this time of world-wide crisis, congregations throughout this church are not able to gather for worship as the body of Christ. While you cannot be together in person, we can hear the word of God and hold each other in prayer. We offer this brief resource as an aid for prayer in the home. As with our prayers in the gathered assembly for worship, you are encouraged to prepare or adapt them locally for your context.
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Listen to devotional music available through Augsburg Fortress: “Filled with His Voice;” “Many and Great O God;” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
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These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
Download a Word doc, or PDF for letter size printout or legal size printout, or view the ELCA resource page.
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According to articles by Foundation for Economic Education, a libertarian think tank, and Fox News, The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised its position to say that countries around the world should not rely on lockdowns to stop outbreaks of the coronavirus.
The advice comes as the number of new COVID-19 cases is rising in the United States and across Europe, with some leaders considering new lockdowns to bring the numbers down.
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This week’s Gospel presents a strange, parable, exaggerated to the point of ridiculous. A king sends out invitations to a wedding banquet, but no one responds.
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Listen to devotional music available through Augsburg Fortress: “Filled with His Voice;” “Many and Great O God;” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
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